Co-op launches new group in Burton to help families cope after losing a child
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 14/06/2018
FORGET ME NOT GROUP IN BURTON AIMS TO HELP FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD TALK ABOUT THEIR GRIEF
A new group is being launched in Burton to offer help, friendship and support to those who have lost a child.
The special Forget Me Not bereavement group has been set up with the aim of bringing together parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters who have lost a child in their family to be able to talk about their loss in a safe environment.
The idea came about after bereavement midwives at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital, who work closely with Stretton Funeral Home, asked if staff could launch a group to help people in need.
Heather Lovatt, Funeral Administrator at the Funeral Home, said: “The entire aim of the group is to try and provide additional support to families who have lost a baby or a child.
“I myself have lost a child and this helps me completely understand what not just parents, but all members of the family go through during such a heartbreaking time. This is something that is really close to my heart and I want to use my own experiences to help as many people as I can.
“The group is not just about bereavement. It is something more. It allows people who have experienced similar things to come together and speak about their grief if they want to, but also to talk about anything else.
“It is an informal group that anyone can come along to. It is also the kind of group where you can come as and when you need it. We will always be here for those that need us.”
The Forget Me Not groups were pioneered and launched by Central England Co-op Funeralcare in Derby in 2016. The project was such a success that groups are now held in all of the 16 counties in which the funeral care provider trades from the Midlands to the east coast.
Stretton Funeral Home will host their first Forget Me Not meeting between noon and 1.30pm on Thursday, 28 June at Stretton Funeral Home, The Precinct, Main Street, Stretton. They will then be held on the last Thursday of every month.
This is the first time that Central England Co-op has launched a group designed solely for people who have lost a child.
Joanne Shillito, Bereavement Midwife at Burton Hospitals, said: “We provide the immediate support to families who have lost a baby but it’s really important that they have access to an ongoing support network. Many grieving families find it helpful talking to others who have similar experiences and we are pleased to be working with Central England Co-operative to facilitate the Forget Me Not group.”
Anyone who would like more information about the meetings can call the Funeral Home direct on 01283 565207.
More information about Central England Co-operative Funeralcare is available by visiting http://www.centralengland.coop/funeral-services
Notes to editors
Picture caption: Funeral Administrator Heather Lovatt (far right) with colleagues with fellow Funeral Administrator Rachel Frost and Funeral Director Jenny Broster will be hosting the Forget Me Not group at Stretton Funeral Home.
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK.
It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, and property.
The company’s funeral business consists of over 120 funeral homes across 16 counties, 10 florists, masonry production and administration, Bretby Crematorium and Terry Smiths coffin factory.
Central England Co-operative has more than 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
The Society has an ambitious food store and funeral home development programme for 2018.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, @mycooplife and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop